8 Days Bhutan Gangtey Trek Tour

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Paro including Ta Dzong Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang after arriving in this amazing city by flight.

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to the hotel. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Paro city.

This first landmark in Paro you will visit is the Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

After that, you will go to explore the famous Paro Rinpung Dzong. It is a large Dzong, Buddhist monastery and fortress built in 17th Century to protect Paro valley. Rinpung Dzong houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlight: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Memorial Chorten, National Textile Museum and Traditional Paper Making Factory etc.

After breakfast, we will first drive towards Paro from Thimphu, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour around Thimphu. You will first visit the National Memorial Chorten, constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. Then head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu. 

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlight: Take in beautiful scenery along the road trip from Thimphu to Gangtey.

In the morning, we will depart to Gangtey from Thimphu. It takes about 3 hours to reach Wangdue through lush forests. On the way, you can stop for a rest at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m). The pass is a perfect vintage point where you can have an unobstructed vista of the mighty Himalayas. Here also sits the 108 small stupas.

After lunch, we will go on driving for another 3 hours to reach Gangtey.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Dochu La Pass

(Trek distance: 15km; Time: 6-7 hours; Altitude: 3000m to 3430m; Ascent: 610m, descent: 410m)

Today, we will begin the Gangtey trek from the village of Tabiting. The trail winds through meadows and fields and through a mixed forest of juniper, bamboo, magnolia and rhododendron to Tsele La (3430m). From here you descend into the Juge Kangkha Chhu valley. Then walk to Gogona, well known for its “Gogona Cheese” production. Head further to a yak pasture called Zasa (3130m), where we will camp besides a small stream.

Camping at Zasa.

Gangtey trek

(Trek distance: 16km; Time: 5-7 hours; Altitude: 3130m to 3480m; Ascent: 450m, descent: 860m)

After breakfast we will follow a gentle climb which leads to Shobe La pass (3,480m). Then descend to a wide valley, surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges. Below the route one can see Khothokha, a village with about 60 houses. Finally, we will reach the campsite at 3330m after a gentle climb, where you will see four chortens in a forest of blue pine.

Camping at Chorten Karpo.

Camping at Chorten Karpo

(Trek distance: 12km; Time: 4-5 hours; Altitude: 3330m to 1500m; Ascent: 120m, descent: 1340m)

First climb for a while until you reach a forest road. From here it’s an easy walk up to a little ridge at 2,800m. Then descend to the valley that leads you Bhutan’s best bird watching areas. The trail eventually meets the road near Tikke Zampa at 1500m. The trek ends there. You will meet your transport and get transferred to Thimphu.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Trek descend to the valley

Highlight: Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest.

Today, we will leave for Paro to enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples. 

After the trek, we will head back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination.

Tour service end.